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Without the context of the experience of claimants in the legacy system, provided in this answer, it is possible from the reference at para 2.11 of the NAO report, to infer wrongly that UC is causing hardship. Hopefully this answer clears up any confusion https://t.co/ivOE4vM3ZL

in its survey of full service claimants, published on 8 June 2018, the Department found that four in ten claimants that were surveyed stated they were experiencing financial difficulties.

Yet, as there is no analysis of the experiences of people claiming ‘legacy’ benefits, Couling states it’s wrong to infer that “UC [Universal Credit] is causing hardship”. This is because there’s nothing to compare it to.

But people were quick to give Couling the comparisons he seems to have missed. Universal Credit claimant and blogger Alex Tiffin gave Couling some “context”:

Okay I was on legacy benefits I could afford to eat now I'm on Universal Credit I can't there's your context.

Research by the UK’s biggest food-bank charity – the Trussell Trust – found:

Analysis of foodbanks that have been in full UC rollout areas for a year or more shows that these projects experienced an average increase of 52% in the twelve months after the full rollout date in their area.

And research by Homeless Link found that Universal Credit is contributing to an increase in homelessness among young people.

Yet the fact that Couling is seemingly dismissive of evidence regarding Universal Credit’s effects shouldn’t surprise people. As the Independent reported, he previously:

dismissed a whistleblower’s first-hand account of claimants’ “daily suffering” under the system as “anecdote and opinion”.

And he was accused of “insensitivity” after tweeting multiple pictures of cakes despite Universal Credit claimants going hungry.

Bleak outlook

The Guardian‘s social policy editor, Patrick Butler, retweeted Couling to facilitate discussion around his claim:

What the director general of universal credit appears to be saying here, is that you'd be wrong to assume that universal credit is causing hardship. Discuss. https://t.co/L3kD0NDzXD

Benefits meant exclusively for the poor often end up being poor benefits.

Couling’s comments encapsulate this rather bleak perception of welfare. His argument that Universal Credit shouldn’t be criticised for causing hardship because the last system did too suggests a lack of compassion for those forced to rely on the DWP to live.

Delusional

So he ignores evidence, detailed reports and even evidence from within the DWP that's been reported on. The man is delusional.

— Charlotte Hughes. The Poor Side Of life (@charlotteh71) August 9, 2018

Yet many would argue that she’s being kind. The evidence – both anecdotal and from reputable organisations – of Universal Credit causing hardship is plentiful. And Couling’s defence of the benefit in the face of such evidence speaks volumes about the government’s agenda.

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